To Find Out More
The following music venues provided information for this story: ★ THE ACTON JAZZ CAFÉ: 978.263.6161, www.actonjazzcafe.com, 452 Great Road in Acton, offers live music Tuesday through Sunday nights.
★ COLONIAL INN'S VILLAGE FORGE TAVERN: 978.369.9200, www.concordscolonialinn.com, 48 Monument Square in Concord, offers live music Wednesday through Sunday nights.
★ MAIN STREETS MARKET & CAFÉ: 978.369.9948, www.mainstreetsmarketandcafe.com, 42 Main Street in Concord, offers live music Tuesday through Saturday nights.
★ SERAFINA'S: 978.371.9050, www.serafinaristorante.com, 195 Sudbury Road in Concord, offers live music Wednesday through Saturday nights.
★ THE JAVA ROOM: 978.256.0001, www.thejavaroom.com, 14 Littleton Road in Chelmsford, offers live music weekend nights and Saturday and Sunday brunch.
local musician Bruce Marshall who has been co-hosting open mics for 20 years, audience members become participants. Schmidt, the music scheduler for Main Streets, says, "more and more people are look- ing for a feeling of community, and lots of people want to express themselves." Locals can also attend open mics at Concord's Emerson Umbrella on Mondays twice
each month – where storytellers and poets are also encouraged to join in – as well as the Colonial Inn on Sunday nights. The restaurant Nourish in Lexington Center also hosts an open mic most Tuesdays of each month. Instead of an open mic, The Acton Jazz Café offers blues and jazz jam sessions that range from beginner- to professional-level participants on Thursdays and Sundays.
Love of Music The Acton Jazz Café's Vivian says she does consider herself a catalyst of the thriving local music scene in our area. "I've put a lot of energy into the café so it could survive the num- ber of years it has. I believe we are part of the reason that there is live music in the sub- urbs," she says.
The bottom line, according to Vivian, is that you have to love music and people to suc- ceed in this business. It's lucky for us that a number of local restaurant owners do. Ultimately, says Janice Anderson, "you don't have to go into Boston for a good dinner and live music. It's all right here." ★
SPRING/SUMMER 2012 ★ north bridge magazine ★ 33
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